What pet insurance covers — and what it doesn't

The plans we place cover accidents and injuries, illnesses (from ear infections to cancer and diabetes), emergency and specialist care, surgery, hospitalization, and diagnostics like bloodwork and MRIs. Higher tiers add hereditary and congenital conditions, chronic care, behavioral therapy, alternative and rehab therapies, prescription meds, dental illness, and even routine wellness care on our Signature plan.

No — pre-existing conditions (anything your pet showed signs of before coverage started or during the waiting period) are excluded across the industry. That's exactly why enrolling early matters. The good news: some carriers will cover a curable pre-existing condition once your pet has been symptom- and treatment-free for a set period, often 180 days. We'll flag which carriers do that.

It varies by carrier. Accident coverage often begins within a few days (sometimes next-day), and illness coverage usually starts after about 14 days. Certain orthopedic conditions, like cruciate ligaments, can have a longer waiting period. We'll give you the exact start dates for the plan you choose before you enroll — no ambiguity.

Dental illness — like extractions and periodontal disease treatment — is covered on select plans, and our Signature plan also includes routine dental cleanings under its wellness benefit. Purely cosmetic dental work is excluded. We'll show you exactly what your chosen carrier includes.

Yes on eligible plans. Cancer treatment, hereditary and congenital conditions (like hip dysplasia and heart defects), and emergency and specialist care are all covered on our Complete and Signature plans, as long as they aren't pre-existing. These are exactly the high-cost events insurance exists to protect you from.

Core accident-and-illness plans focus on the unexpected, not routine care. If you want coverage for exams, vaccines, and dental cleanings, our Signature plan folds routine and wellness care in, and some carriers offer a wellness add-on you can attach to a base plan. We'll show you both options in your quote.